Google Play Books v3.16 adds support for Google Cast and Audiobooks [APK Teardown]

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Looking at the code of latest update to Google Play Books Android app, now in v3.16, we see a lot of it being added to prepare the app for Audiobooks, and bring support for Google Cast, which would be required for Audiobooks for sure.

We weren’t able to see this live in the app, but given the tremendous amount of new code making it to v3.16 (from 3.15) of Play Books Android app, we’re sure that support Audiobooks is coming sooner than later.

Well, a teardown is based on the code we find buried within an APK of an app, which we look upon to speculate features that may or may not become official in future. So, do not take these features to become available for granted, as this is merely a rumor, although based off something official.

Audiobooks

There’s a ton of new code, but it’s easy to see it’s all for the introduction of Audiobooks. And with Audiobooks, the ability to cast, hence support for Google Cast.

Here’s the code below for the Audiobooks in Play Books app. We picked up some selected lines of code among all, grouped right belwo, which make it amply clear that there is gonna be an Audiobooks section in the main Store tab of the app. Have a look.

We think Google can begin the rollout of Audiobooks for Play Books app anytime now. Depending on your region, you could have it sooner than others. Do let us know if you spot Audiobooks already, but we expect an announcement from Google when they do add Audiobooks to the Play Books app officially because this is huge.